Social media advice for real estate investor

General Landlording & Rental Properties

Social media advice for real estate investor

Member since 2018 · 563 posts · 562 votes

If not for my posting at BiggerPockets, I have zero social media presence. Honestly, I do not really want to deal with some of the inevitable negative(politics, religion, activism, etc) social aspects of social media.

BUT...it has become painfully obvious that social media engagement is the way of the future for finding and screening good tenants and just about every aspect of the real estate investor.

I am seeking advice and guidance on how to start from square one developing social media profile(specifically facebook an/or linked in)geared towards benefiting my existing rental assets(apartments in Hollywood) and create a foundation for other real estate related specialties and/or RE endeavors in general....while at the same time not really having to be constantly available to my extended friends and family and therefore,avoiding taking part in what seems to be(IMHO) the common theme of most people sharing too much, too often.

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Real Estate Broker · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes

Frankly, I think you already shared to much

: )

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
5y
I don't think you need it. I have an active Facebook page with over 1200 likes. I'm by far the biggest provider of rentals in my area with about 400 units and 350 storage units. We post at least one blog post or meme every day that is current, relevant, and often humorous. In the past two weeks (that's over 24 posts) my best result was five engagements (likes, comments, or shares). Most of my posts don't get any reaction.

Facebook and other social media platforms work well for certain people, products, and markets, but I don't think real estate is one of them unless you have some very dedicated followers, which is usually what happens when they are following the personality, not the product.
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Cody Lewis
Investor · Charleston, SC · Member since 2021 · 263 posts · 122 votes
5y
If you're not interested in doing it or not great at doing it, you could always hire someone to do it for you. There are tons of companies that specialize in this. If you need the presence, it's likely worth paying for to do it right.
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Scott M.
Real Estate Broker · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
5y
Frankly, I think you already shared to much

: )
1 Reply
Isaac S.
OP
Member since 2018 · 563 posts · 562 votes
5y
Originally posted by @Nathan Gesner:
I don't think you need it. I have an active Facebook page with over 1200 likes. I'm by far the biggest provider of rentals in my area with about 400 units and 350 storage units. We post at least one blog post or meme every day that is current, relevant, and often humorous. In the past two weeks (that's over 24 posts) my best result was five engagements (likes, comments, or shares). Most of my posts don't get any reaction.

Facebook and other social media platforms work well for certain people, products, and markets, but I don't think real estate is one of them unless you have some very dedicated followers, which is usually what happens when they are following the personality, not the product.
Thanks for the perspective. In 2020, we had 50% turnover of units, and I was getting much better results from having tenants place Facebook market place adds on my behalf, than Zillow and Craigslist combined. It could have much to do with "certain people" part of the formula, but, I also determined that my target demographic starts their apartment search on Facebook, and so some percentage of my customers never get to my listing on Zillow or Craigslist because they started the search on Facebook marketplave and if they found something there,they never even got to the places where I actively advertise.

Primary goal: I want my perspective renters too find me on Facebook marketplace, if that's the first or only place they look. I don't want to create a ton of content or try and get likes etc....
Secondary: would be to help brand our building and try to capture the vibe of the place and people, so that it helps with the primary goal. There is already a good sense of community among the tenants, and would be great to leverage that, more than the existing casual referrals.
Thanks for your reply and I have read many of your posts in the past and really appreciate the added value you bring to discussions.

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- Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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  Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
  5y
  Originally posted by @Isaac S.:
  Originally posted by @Nathan Gesner:
  I don't think you need it. I have an active Facebook page with over 1200 likes. I'm by far the biggest provider of rentals in my area with about 400 units and 350 storage units. We post at least one blog post or meme every day that is current, relevant, and often humorous. In the past two weeks (that's over 24 posts) my best result was five engagements (likes, comments, or shares). Most of my posts don't get any reaction.
  
  Facebook and other social media platforms work well for certain people, products, and markets, but I don't think real estate is one of them unless you have some very dedicated followers, which is usually what happens when they are following the personality, not the product.
  Thanks for the perspective. In 2020, we had 50% turnover of units, and I was getting much better results from having tenants place Facebook market place adds on my behalf, than Zillow and Craigslist combined. It could have much to do with "certain people" part of the formula, but, I also determined that my target demographic starts their apartment search on Facebook, and so some percentage of my customers never get to my listing on Zillow or Craigslist because they started the search on Facebook marketplave and if they found something there,they never even got to the places where I actively advertise.
  
  Primary goal: I want my perspective renters too find me on Facebook marketplace, if that's the first or only place they look. I don't want to create a ton of content or try and get likes etc....
  Secondary: would be to help brand our building and try to capture the vibe of the place and people, so that it helps with the primary goal. There is already a good sense of community among the tenants, and would be great to leverage that, more than the existing casual referrals.
  Thanks for your reply and I have read many of your posts in the past and really appreciate the added value you bring to discussions.
  
  Facebook marketing is a whole different story! I share my rentals on various Facebook groups and get tons of renters that way. I thought you were talking about a professional page, trying to collect followers, etc.
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Isaac S.
OP
Member since 2018 · 563 posts · 562 votes
5y
Originally posted by @Cody Lewis:
If you're not interested in doing it or not great at doing it, you could always hire someone to do it for you. There are tons of companies that specialize in this. If you need the presence, it's likely worth paying for to do it right.

Thanks for feedback!
What would your definition of doing it right be?
I do think I need the presence because I have found that overwhelming majority of my new tenants start their apartment search on Facebook Marketplace, and some only use that. I have mostly heard good feedback from new tenants about using Facebook Marketplace, and they like to be able to make a connection to a real human and not some nameless faceless management company.
So, I rent studios and one bedrooms in Hollywood, CA....my primary demographic trends younger, aspiring entertainment industry, new career college grad, first apartment, urban lifestyle, etc....they are all on social media, and it makes me kind of think I should be too?
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